Donoughmore Tug of War

Carlo Lynch hands Mick Healy the Bob Dean Cup for the seventh round of the Munster league in Ballyhooly, Co. Cork.

It was raining when we arrived, raining as we pulled and you guessed it still raining when we were leaving. Ballyhooly league night seen some heavy rain fall but still was well attended. Seven clubs competed and it made for a pretty tough nights pulling, every movement was important as the ground cut up pretty quick and the muck was generously buttered across all teams by ten o clock.

At first the youths once more battled it out, Harps taking top points from a quickly improving Rathkeale A. The U23 started without delay and Araglin had to be content with second place too Harps but the Conna Men had a tough time pulling their neighbours to a victory.

Seven teams slogged it out in the rain for heavy weight league points with 680kg teams having to prove their best.  The mighty Shop won the Novice final beating Araglin and but got into trouble against Donoughmore in the semi final of the senior. The host team Ballyhooly had a straight end victory over Araglin on the other side. So it left to locals Ballyhooly and visitors Donoughmore to pull a final. Donoughmore pulled well and took the top points in straight ends from the Ballyhooly men and all in all seemed to handle the  horrid conditions better than other sides on the night.

Sunday hopefully will bring better weather and more Munster tug of war in Thurles Racecourse, County Tipperary. Weights here are 640 and Catchweight and the Youths and U23 will and pull off first. Pulling starts at 1pm and all are welcome.

The fifth round of a revised nine rounds of the league was blustery but mostly dry day in Corrofin County Clare and was attended by eight clubs who represented themselves very well.

The U23 was battled out between two new clubs giving them both a golden opportunity  to narrow the points gap on the Harps side. In this pull Farrenreigh performed very well to defeat Araglin in straight ends in the best of five competition.

The 600kgs Novice/Senior was the most suited weight for the home side The Burren and was pulled with 5 teams competing. The Burren defeated the Farrenreigh men in straight ends to claim the 600kg Novice. Donoughmore were pitted against Farrenreigh in semi final of the senior and Donoughmore scraped a win 2-1. The Burren powered out Araglin in straight ends too also reach their second 600kgs Final.  The host club returned rested after the break and had to pull with control and pressure to haul the seven man Donoughmore  over the tape in  two very competitive ends. Congrats to the Burren on their home ground victorys.

A quick turn around with the draw made and it was straight into the 680kgs Open with the finalists of the 600kgs knocking further steam from one another in the lead pull. The 680kgs was ground out between seven teams with two teams very impressive all day and in turn they both ended up in the final. North Clare excellent all day continued their good form and muscled their way to victory against the galant Shop side in a hard-fought straight ends.

Results, league points and performance’s on the day were discussed at length after in the Corrofin Gaa club house over tea and sandwiches, and now all eyes are on round eight next Friday night. The Ballyhooly Tug of War club host round 6 of the 2012 league events at this round are U18, U23, 680ks Novice/Senior. All are welcome and pulling starts at 8pm sharp.

Get your Club kit order in. We will be placing a new order for club kit which includes:
- Half zip padded jackets
- Hoddies
- Polo tops
- Breathable gym t-shirts
- Shorts & Socks

Available by 0877682774 or just email at donoughmoretug@yahoo.ie

Newly formed Araglin Tug of War Club hosted their first tug of war competition in 2012 at the Araglin  Gaa grounds on Sunday last, a meer  25 odd years since club tug of war was last seen in this town in North Cork.

A good crowd watched as Harps under 18 youths team battled hard to beat the reformed Rathkeale Youths. Three five aside teams competed in this event and it is great to see a hand full of clubs fielding youths teams, two of which were from Rathkeale.

Three clubs fielded U23 teams Araglin, Harps and Farrenreigh.  Harps overcame the fast improving Farrenreigh men in the final to receive the winners label. Congratulations to the winners and all involved in both youths and U23 competitions.

The 600 kgs Novice/Senior had seven clubs represented. The Burren were without doubt the outstanding team on the day. Farrenreigh pulled well in the final and seemed to be causing The Burren some problems in the second end but the Clare men regrouped and finished well. Having gained enough points during the day the Burren contested the Senior final also against  a courageous seven man Ballyhooly. This was a tougher affair but Burren had the contest always in control and finished up winning the senior also. Congrats to the Burren.

Next to the mixed, where two teams competed in the best of five event. Cuan Rithe and Donoughmore battled out three ends in this closely matched pairing. In what could have gone either way  it was Donoughmore who end up with top place with Cuan Rithe settling for runner-up on the day.

The 680kg Open had to wait until last to be decided upon, on what was a cool winding day in North Cork. Seven teams competed in a closely matched competition, Donoughmore pulled well to defeat The Burren in the first semi final and The Shop overcame the home side Araglin to set up a final placings of Donoughmore versus The Shop. The Shop beat Donoughmore impressively in the first end but ran into more difficulty in the second but remained confident and finished well as worthy 680kgs winners. Congrats to the Tipp Men.

The fourth round of the Munster League continues in Farrenreigh Club, Thurles next Sunday the 6th with the same program of events scheduled. Hoping the weather is good and a good crowd turns out to support this young club. The venue will be signposted around the town and pulling starts at 1pm.

Round two of this years Tug Of War league was hosted by Cuan Rithe Club in Ballyclogh Co.Cork yesterday with U23, Mixed 4×4, and 680kg Senior/Novice and an open 640kgs.

Congrats to the under age teams who competed at U18 and  U23 is a credit to these clubs to be fielding youths teams, Harps saw off the Araglin club in the U18 Youths to win on the day, and congrats again to Harps U23 who came out on top points against Araglin and Farrenreigh clubs.

Mixed tug of war returned for its second year to Munster league and saw two teams compete which were Donoughmore against Ballyclogh, after a hard struggle Donoughmore mixed squad eked out a victory 3 ends to 2. Congrats to all involved.

Ballyhooly emerged winners of the Senior 680kgs were they saw off a stiff challenge from the tipp novice side The Shop.

In turn The Shop also competed and won the novice 680kgs against the Araglin A side who gave them a good run for the victory.

Glenhill were paired with the Burren in the final of the open 640kg a close contest ensued were Glenhill were two strong for the Clare men.

The next venue is in Araglin on the 29th of this month with weights to be decided.

Tug of war has commenced in Munster with Glenhill hosting the first days pulling at Watergrasshill, Co. Cork last Sunday.

Nine sets of jerseys appeared for to contest U23, Mens 640kgs Senior and Novice and a 720kg Open to finish..

Newly formed Araglin squeezed an exciting victory in the U23 competition from Harps 2 ends to 1.

The 640kg had 7 teams pulling and after the usual round robin system the senior final was won by the host side Glenhill in straight ends against Donoughmore. The novice was made an all Tipperary final by two new clubs Farrenreigh and The Shop, these two had a great battle with Farrenreigh taking the gold.

Finally the 720kg Open had Eight teams fighting for places in a final. Those two were Glenhill and The Shop and again a Tipperary side took victory in straight ends.

Congratulations to all winning teams and best of luck in the next round  hosted by  Cuan Rithe Club, Ballyclough, Co. Cork next Sunday.  Pulling starting at 1pm sharp.

Best of luck too all clubs involved..